| 释义 |
cithern, cittern arch.|ˈsɪθən, ˈsɪtən|
Forms: 6 cittarn, citern, cithron, cythren, citharne, citheron, citherne, 6–7 citterne, cytern(e, 7 cittren, -on, citron, cytarin, cyttern, citerne, citheran, citthern, cythron, cithren, 6–9 cittern, 7– 9 cithern.
[App. of 16th c. Eng. formation (no corresponding form occurring in other langs.) and f. L. cithara, or some form of that word. The name gittern, F. guiterne, had long been in use, and it is possible that the name cittern was modelled upon it, to indicate an instrument of the same class, considered to be more like the ancient cithara.]
1. An instrument of the guitar kind, but strung with wire, and played with a plectrum or quill; much used in 16–17th c.
Commonly kept in barbers' shops for the use of the customers. It had often a grotesquely-carved head; cf. 2.
The Tyrolese form of the instrument, which has also come into fashion in England of late years, is commonly distinguished as the zither n.
1566Gascoigne Jocasta in Four O. Pl. (1848) 133 Noyse of violles, Cythren, Bandurion. 1567Turberv. Epit. Maister Edwards Poems 142 Now lay your chearfull Cithrons downe and to lamenting fall. 1575Laneham Lett. (1871) 59 Noow with my Gittern, and els with my Cittern, then at the Virgynalz. 1577Harrison England ii. xv. (1877) i. 272 The yoongest sort [of ladies]..applie their lutes, citharnes, and all kind of musike. 1591Florio 2nd Fruites 129 He plaies also upon the cittarn. 1598Sylvester Du Bartas ii. ii. Columnes 702 Citrons, viols, cornets, flutes. 1604T. Wright Pass. v. §2. 159 Saul being possessed..with the deuil, David played vpon his Citheran. 1611Bible 1 Macc. iv. 54 Dedicated with songs, and cittherns, and harpes. 1626Bacon Sylva §146 (1677) An Irish Harp..maketh a more resounding Sound, than a Bandora, Orpharion, or Cittern, which have likewise Wire-strings. 1648Herrick Hesper., His Desire, Tickling the citterne with his quill. 1666Playford Mus. Delight on Cithren 1 The cithren is strung with eight Wyre strings, which are divided into four course, two in a course. 1683Tryon Way to Health 657 Cyterns and Gitterns..being well managed..yield pleasant soft effeminate Harmonies. 1715–20Pope Iliad xviii. 574 [Dancing] to the..citterns silver sound. 1830James Darnley xii, A cithren or mandolin. Ibid. A citharn. 1865Swinburne Poems & Ball, Ball. Life 11 She held a little cithern by the strings. 1866Engel Nat. Mus. viii. 284 Hanging on the wall in their shops was commonly a lute or a cittern. 1871Rossetti Poems, Blessed Damozel xxi, Angels..shall sing To their citherns and citoles.
2. Comb., as cithern-string; † cittern-head, used as a term of contempt, with reference to the grotesquely carved head of a cittern; hence † cittern-headed a.
1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 614 Ped. I will not be put out of countenance. Ber. Because thou hast no face. Ped. What is this? Boi. A Citterne head. 1599Massinger, etc. Old Law iv. i, The heads of your instruments differ; yours are hogsheads, theirs cittern and gittern-heads. Bail. All wooden heads. a1625Fletcher Love's Cure ii. ii, You Cittern-head. 1638Ford Fancies i. ii, Thou'rt..a cittern-headed gew-gaw. |